Blogs

__**What is a blog?**__

The following definition has been taken from Wikipedia: A **blog** (a [|portmanteau] of the term "**web log**")[|[1]] is a type of [|website] or part of a [|website]. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning //to maintain or add content to a blog//. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal [|online diaries]. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, [|Web pages], and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art ([|Art blog]), photographs ([|photoblog]), videos ([|Video blogging]), music ([|MP3 blog]), and audio ([|podcasting]). [|Microblogging] is another type of blogging, featuring very short posts.


 * Why blogs have been transformative for me:**

When I started reading blogs written by leading educators, I found a way to regularly connect with what these people were saying, reading, thinking, linking to. Blogs have their own voice which makes them very different to other types of writing. They are informal, often regularly updated, imperfect, and often the closest way to know someone without actually being with them. They're dynamic, they provide the opportunity to comment, and often result in conversation. They transcend barriers - you know the writer not from his/her physical, socio-economic, academic, geographic identity, but from what they have to say and how they say it. Blogs are a wonderful way to reduce isolation for educators, to expand your circle of colleagues, to share ideas and information, to document and reflect on lessons and projects, to collaborate with the class, other classes or other teachers.


 * Where to start:**

Edublogs Wordpress Blogger


 * Introduction to blogging and How-to** Instructions and ideas from's Social Media Co-Lab


 * My blogs:**

Brave New World The place I share, reflect, vent, get excited. Fiction is like a box of chocolates This is a blog I started to promote reading, and it includes author websites, interviews, student and teacher book and film reviews, student writing. Now I have student authors contributing reviews and opinion pieces. Storyteller This blog is primarily for English teachers. The aim is to provide a variety of writing prompts for students to have frequent but not long or painful writing practice. Also relevant to language and RE teachers - any teachers who use visual or media prompts for discussion and creativity. Art Does Matter Visual blog sharing ideas for art, animation and design with art students. How did you know it was me My photo blog (just personal stuff). Through global lenses This blog documented, reflected and evaluated the global project on Flickr our year 10 boys did with teachers and students in Florida and Finland.


 * Here are some of the blogs I read** (sorry, I'm sure I've left a lot of people out, but it's a start)

Lucacept Head of Information Services at Toorak College (click here for bio) Sheryl Nussbaum Beach - Co-founder of Powerful Learning Practice Will Richardson - Co-founder of Powerful Learning Practice Jeff Utecht - Elementary Ed Tech inegrator at International School Bangkok Julie Lindsay - Ed Tech integrator at an international school in Beijing Tom Barrett - Primary School teacher from England Darren Kuropatwa -Secondary Maths teacher from Canada Joyce Valenza - Teacher-Librarian from the United States Dean Groom - Head of Ed Tech at Macquarie University Judy O'Connell - Lecturer at the School of Information Studies in the Faculty of Education at Charles Sturt University Chris Betcher - Ed Tech integrator from Sydney Silvia Tolisano - Ed Tech integrator from the United States Sean Nash - Biology teacher and Ed Tech integrator from the United States Alec Couros - Instructor at University of Regina, Canada Karl Fisch - Teacher/Ed tech integrator Arapahoe High School, Colorado Anne Mirtschin - Teacher at Hawkesdale P-12 College in country Western Victoria, Australia Howard Rheingold critic, writer, and teacher; his specialties are on the cultural, social and political implications of modern communication media such as the [|Internet],[|mobile telephony] and [|virtual communities] (a term he is credited with inventing) Jo McLeay a Professional Learning Officer for VITTA (Victorian Information Technology Teachers Association) which supports teachers of technology in schools and universities John Connell Educator in Scotland and creator of Scottish Schools Digital Network, Glow. Larry Ferlazzo Educator who puts prolifically shares links to wonderful resources Steve Hargadon


 * Blog lists**

100 blogs that will make you smarter